Dispenser



Patented Mar. 19, 1940 Unirse starts lorries This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of an inexpensive, simple and highly eicient apparatus for preparing and dispensing a useful commodity in the form of a solution comprising components of a liquid and a soluble element of which one is introduced into the presence of the other in such a manner as to prepare such a solution and to provide the same with predetermined characteristics.

l Another object is to provide apparatus of the character described wherein the solution is dis-.p pensed in the form of a lather.

An additional object is to provide apparatus of the character described wherein the liquid is agitated. adjacent to the soluble element to facilitate the dissolving thereof upon each dispensing n operation.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of the character described comprising a liquid reservoir. a means for supporting a soluble element,

a means for regulating the introduction of liquid from the reservoir to the presence of said velement and a means for dispensing therefrom a solution containing components of said liquid and said soluble element.

An important object is to provide a dispenser of the character described which is particularly well adapted for dispensing a saponaceous product.

A further object is to provide a soap dispenser wherein a soluble saponaceous element such as a cake of soap is treated to provide a solution which is dispensed in the form of a saponaceous lather. l v

Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

l have shown a preferred form of my invention in the accompanying drawing, subject to modication within the scope of the appended 4o claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a dispenser constructed in accordance with this in- 45 vention; f .p

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line ?.-2 of Fig. l, with the hell removed and showing the level of the liquid as when the dispenser having the soluble element therein is initially filled in the first step of preparing the same for use;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 3--3 of Fig. 1 showing the bell replaced and the levels of liquid as when the dispenser 55 is ready for use;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 4 4 of Fig. l, showing the means operating levels of liquid assumed after a predetermined lnumberl of initial dispensing operations and which are maintained throughout the re- 5 maining dispensing operations with. a given amount of the soluble element;

Fig.. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower part of the dispenser and particularly showing the valved dispensing means; 10

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

One embodiment of ther dispenser of this invention as shown in the accompanying drawing comprises means for introducing one into the 15 presence of the'other, a soluble 'element and a liquid to prepare a solution containingcomponents of said liquid `and said soluble element, and means for dispensingsaid solution. Preferably this dispensing means is constructed and 20 arranged so that it will agitate the liquid adjacent to the soluble element to facilitate the dissolving thereof, and to also aerate or otherwise convert into a lather the solution dispensed thereby. l I 25 'Ihe dispenser of` this invention is primarily designed to dispense soap and it will be noted that it will be particularly efficacious when so used,`in that it will operate to create from a cake of soap and water,V a saponaceous solution which 30 will be most economically dispensed in the form of a lather. l

More specifically, the dispenser hereof comprises a liquid reservoir A serving as the casing or housing of theiclispenser, a container B therein 35 for holding the cake of soap or soluble element C in the presence of liquid therein, a dispensing means D, and means in the form of an inverted cup or bell E which 'telescopes and encompasses said container andis operable for effecting a 40 controlled feed of liquid from the reservoir A to the container B.

As particularly shown in Fig. 1, the reservoir A is open at its upper end and there equipped with a hinged closure i permitting of access to the .interior thereof. Bracket means 2 of any suitable kind is provided on the back of the reservoir to fasten the dispenser to a wall or like support.

The container B is considerably smaller than the reservoir and is anchored to the bottom of the latter, approximately centrally thereof with its upper open end disposed well below the corresponding end of said reservoir. This arrange,- ment provides a liquid storage space which surand to facilitate the dissolving thereof.

rounds and extends above the container B. In this connection it should be noted that the cake of soap or soluble element C is prepared in dimensions such that it will be supported by a grid member 3 with its upper end substantially ush with the upper end of said container, its lower end spaced above the corresponding end of the container and its sides spaced from the container walls, whereby to provide a liquid storage space surrounding and disposed below said element.

In order to better understand the functions of the bell E as to the controlled feed oi' liquid from the reservoir to the container and the maintaining of predetermined water levels in the dispenser, the dispensing means D should be rst described. Accordingly, this dispensing means is seen to comprise a sectional cylinder l secLued to the under side of the reservoir by means of a tubular threaded member 5 which also provides an open passage 6 aiording communication of the lower end of the container B with said cylinder. Mounted for operation in said cylinder 6 is a piston 'I fixed on the inner end of a tubular dispensing plunger 8 and having a passage 9 therethrough which affords communication of the cylinder with the bore of thel tubular plunger. At its outer closed end IU the plunger has a discharge spout I I which will direct the dispensed matter downwardly onto the palm of the hand of the operator.

A valve I2 seated by a plurality of springs I3 within the plunger 8 controls the passage 9 and has a stem I4 which is of considerably less diameter than and extends through said passage. When the piston 'I and plunger 8 are pushed inwardly against the action of a spring I5 within cylinder di, the stem I4 will engage the cylinder wall IS and open the valve I2 at the same time that piston l closes the passage 6. Up to the point of closing the passage 6, the piston T will force liquid from cylinder li through passage 6 and onto the lower end of the soluble element whereby to agitato the liquid adjacent to said end However. when the passage 6 is closed and the valve I2 is opened, as aforesaid, and the balance of the inward stroke of the piston causes the so-lution then trapped in the cylinder 'I to be forced through the passage 9 into tubular plunger 8 and out through the spout I I. During this passage through the plunger the solution, by reason of the baie action aiorded bythe springs I3 therein, is broken up, becomes aerated and is converted into a fine creamy lather, and is discharged through the spout I I in this form. Furthermore, the springs I 3, in working back and forth in the plunger passage, operate to clean it and to prevent accumulations of dried out lather therein.

The bell E is preferably made of glass whereby the soap or soluble element content of the container B may be ascertained without lifting the bell. When seated the lower edge of this bell rests upon the bottom of the reservoir A and its formed with openings or recesses I'I to permit liquid to iiow into the liquid storage space I8 defined between opposed walls of the bell and said container. As here shown, the container and bell are of rectangular cross section and the bell is of such diameter that when mounted in place, vertical walls thereof will be spaced from corresponding container walls whereby to dene the space or compartment i8. The length of the bell E is such that it will define an air space 25J above the container B. A spring catch 2I secured to the bottom of the reservoir, as shown in Fig. 5, serves to hold the bell E in place, while the air trapped in the upper end of the bell is maintained under pressure.

To prepare the dispenser for operation, the calze of soap or soluble element C, as the case may be, is placed in the container B with the bell E removed, and the liquid is poured into the dispenser until container B is substantially lled and the level in the reservoir is substantially equal to the level in said container, as particularly shown in Fig. 2.

Next, the bell E is mounted in place, as shown in Fig. 3, and during the lowering of said bell the air trapped therein is compressed and requires that the operator force the bell downward into nal position, the catch ZI serving to hold the bell in place. Due to this compression of the trapped air in the bell, the liquid in the space or compartment I t dened between the spaced walls of the bell and container is forced out under the lower edge of the bell and the level in the reservoir is raised, as shown in Fig. 3. The liquid is nonr contained in the reservoir and container B only, as shown in Fig. 3, and the dispenser is ready for operation.

With each dispensing operation the level of liquid in the container B is lowered in proportion to the amount of liquid dispensed and at the same time the pressure of the air trapped in the bell E is correspondingly lowered so that the static balance of the column of liquid in the reservoir is overcome and an amount of liquid flows under the bell and into the space I8 in direct proportion to the amount of liquid dispensed. Not, however, until the level of liquid in the container B reaches the predetermined point indicated at 25 in Figs. 4 and 5, does the level of the liquid in the space I8 reach the top of said container. When this condition is reached, the liquids assume the levels shown in Fig. 4, that is, the levels in space I8 and in the container will remain as shown in Fig. 4, throughout the remainder of the dispensing operations with the original cake of soap.

It will be noted that the liquid capacity of the chamber B when the cake of soap or soluble element C is just placed therein is comparatively small and that but a few operations of the dispenser are required to lower the level of the liquid therein to the point indicated at 25 in Fig. 4, or in other words, to the working level. This working level is such that only the lower end, say an inch or a fraction of an inch of the soluble element or soap C, is exposed to the liquid and therefore the soluble element will dissolve from the lower end, and in dissolving will leave a space in the upper part of the container to receive another soluble element before the rst has been entirely dissolved.

Another reason for this low working level of liquid in the container B is to reduce the volume of liquid which is to be rendered soapy or is to take on the characteristics of the soluble element, whereby to provide a concentrated solution. It is important to note that by maintaining this working level substantially uniform throughout practically the entire operation with a given soluble element, the consistency of the solution will likewise be uniform and because of the small volume of liquid exposed to the soluble element said solution will be highly concentrated. For example, when a cake of soap is used the solution will be highly saponaceous and owing to the dispensing of the solution in the form of a rich lather,

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as pr-ovided by the means of this invention, al

much more economical soap dispensing operation can be effected than where dispensing a solution in liquid form, yet the lather will have the desired cleansing qualities comparable to other forms of soap. I have found that a dispenser such as'here shown will have a capacity of ten more liquid fillings per cake of soap, and will produce a consistently and uniformly rich lather throughout the dissolving of said cake of soap.

f It should be noted that the volumetric capacities of the container B; bell E and reservoir A and space lll, both as to'air and liquid, are predetermined, aswell as the size of the soluble element,rv to producethe liquid levels and the controlled liquid feed such as hereinbefore noted and that these capacities may be varied as desired whereby to vary the consistency of the solution and other phases of the operation of the dispenser. v

Referring again to the dispenser as when in the normal operating condition shown 'in Fig. 4, it is seen that the pressure of the air trapped in the bell E at this time is yet above atmospheric pressure, and therefore the liquid columns in the container B, space I8 and reservoir A are maintained in static balance, due to the pressure of said trapped air as against the head of the reser- Voir column and the atmospheric pressure on the latter. Consequently, a differential in the pressure's of the trapped air in the bell and the hydrostatic and atmospheric pressures affecting the columns of liquid in space i8 and in the reservoir, will vary the levels of said columns and start and stop the feed of liquid from the reservoir into the container B. When the dispensing means D is operated the Volume of the liquid in the container B is reduced in proportion to the amount of liquid dispensed, and the level of liquid in said container is correspondingly lowered. As a result of this lowering of said level the pressure of the trapped air in the bell is reduced and the atmospheric and hydrostatic pressures become effective on the liquid columns in space I8 and in the reservoir A, whereby the liquid in the space i8 will rise and overflow into the container B to replace the liquid discharged with each dispensingr operation. Upon this restoration-of the liquid level in the container B, the pressure of the trapped air is restored to the point to produce' the aforesaid static balance, the level in space l ceases to rise and the feed of liquid to the container likewise ceases. It is now seen that the feed of liquid from the reservoir to the container B is controlled by the dispensing means D.

To prevent a too rapid inflow of liquid into the container B and a consequent dilution of the solution therein, baffle members 26 may be provided on the wall of said container whereby to check the flow of liquid down said walls.

What I claim is:

l. A soap dispenser comprising a container for solidified soap and a liquid adapted to be rendered saponaceous upon the dissolving of said soap, a liquid reservoir, means for dispensing a solution containing components of said liquid and said soap including a chamber into which liquid. .gravitates from said container, and means rendered operative upon operation of said dispensing means for automatically feeding liquid from said reservoir to said container.

2. A soap dispenser comprising a container for soap and a liquid adapted to be rendered saponaceous by the dissolving of said soap, means for dispensing a saponaceous solution from said container, a liquid reservoir, and means controlled by hydrostatic and atmospheric pressure in said reservoir and container for automatically feeding liquid from said reservoir to said container.

3. A soap dispenser comprising a liquid reservoir, a container mounted within and adapted yto receive liquid from said reservoir and to contain soap in the presenoeof` liquid therein, means for dispensing from said container a solution containing components ofA said liquid and said soap, and means controlled by said dispensing means and operated by differential air pressures in said iii reservoir and container for feeding liquid from l said reservoir to said container in predetermined quantityl in proportion to the quantity of said solution dispensed therefrom,

4. A dispenser comprising a liquid reservoir, a container therein adapted tov receive liquid therefrom and to "hold a soluble element, means for dispensing vfrom saidcontainer al solution containing components of said liquid and said soluble element, means controlled by said dispensing means and the relative air pressure in said container and reservoir for feeding liquid from said reservoir to said container and for maintaining a predetermined level Ofliquid in said container.

5'. A dispenser comprising' a liquid reservoir, a container therein adapted to receive liquid therefrom and to hold a soluble element, means for dispensing from said container a solution containing components of said liquid and said soluble element, means controlledy by said dispensing means for feeding liquid from said reservoir to said container and for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said container, said means including a bell telescoping said container and having a space containing air against the pressure of which said liquid feeds to said container incident to changes in the Volume of liquid in said container as taking place upon dispensing said solution therefrom.

6. A dispenser comprising a liquid reservoir, a container therein adapted to receive liquid 4therefrom and to hold a soluble element, means for dispensing from said container a solution containing components of said liquid and said soluble said container and for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said container. said` means including a bell telescoping said container and having a space containing air against the pressure of which said liquid feeds to said container incident to changes in the volume of liquid in said container as taking place upon dispensing said solution therefrom, and baffle means in said container for checking the ow of liquid downwardly uponthe inner surfaces of walls of said container. y l l 7. A dispenser comprising a liquid reservoir, a container mounted within said reservoir and having its upper end open at a point spaced belowr the upper end of the reservoir, said container being adapted to receive a soluble element of a size such that a liquid storage space is provided between the soluble element and walls of the container, means for supporting the lower end of the soluble element at a point abovethe lower end of the container, said container having an outlet at its lower end, dispensing means including a chamber into which liquid will gravitate from said outlet. a bell member open at its lower end and closed at its upper end and being removably mounted in the reservoir so asr to telescope the container, said bell member and container and said bell and reservoir defining spaces for liquid and air, said bell member having its lower end constructed to permit liquid to pass thereunder from said reservoir into the space between container and said bell.

8. A dispenser comprising a liquid reservoir, a container mounted Within said reservoir and having its upper end open at a point spaced below the upper end of the reservoir, said container being adapted to receive a soluble element of a size such that a liquid storage space is provided between the soluble element and walls of the container, means for supporting the lower end of the soluble element at a point above the lower end of the container, said container having an outlet at its lower end, dispensing means including a chamber into which liquid will gravitate from said outlet, a bell member open at its lower end and closed at its upper end and being removably mounted in the reservoir so as to telescope the container, said bell member and container and said bell and reservoir defining spaces for liquid and air, said bell member having its lower end constructed to permit liquid to pass thereunder from said reservoir into the space between container and said bell, and baille members on walls of said container for checking the iiow of liquid down said walls into the lower end of said container.

9. A dispenser comprising a liquid reservoir, a container adapted to receive liquid from said reservoir and to hold a cake of soluble material therein, means for dispensing from said container a solution containing components of said soluble material and said liquid, means actuated by said dispensing means for feeding liquid into said container and for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid therein and including a bell telescoping and adapted to maintain between it and said container a quantity of air under pressure.

10. A dispenser comprising: a reservoir, for holding a liquid, means for supporting a soluble element therein, means Within said reservoir for enclosing said soluble element for controlling the quantity of liquid directly in the presence of said soluble element, and dispensing means adjacent and communicating with said reservoir, for pro ducing and ejecting components of said liquid and soluble element at each operation.

l1. A dispenser comprising: a reservoir, a container therein for holding a soluble element in the form of a cake or the like, a bell shaped member encompassing said container and spaced therefrom, a dispensing means including a chamber communicating with the interior of said container, and a plunger in said chamber having an outlet and arranged at each operation to discharge predetermined quantities of the components of a liquid adapted to be held in said reservoir and said soluble element.

ARTHUR L. BOBRICK. 

